prescott



No. 607,l92.

\ G. H. PRESCOTT.

BOUT 0R SHOE STRETCHER.

(Appliqation filed Feb. 26, 1897.)

Patented July l2, I898.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES INVENTOR W a Attorney THE uoams PETERS co. FNDTO-LITHQ,WASHINGYDN. u c

UNrrn warns CHARLES H. PRESCOTT, OF ATHENS, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO IVILLIAM B. HUNT, OF SAME PLACE.

BOOT OR SHOE STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 607,192, dated July 12,1898. Application filed February 26,1397. Serial No. 625,0S5. (Nomodel.)

T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. PRESCOTT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Athens, in the county of McMinn and State of Tennessee, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Boot or Shoe Stretchers;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in shoemakers tools, and has moreparticular relation to boot or shoe stretchers.

The invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations, andarrangements of parts, all of which will be hereinafter moreparticularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the device embodying myinvention, and Fig. 2 represents a central vertical section through thesame.

1 in the drawings represents the tube or casing; 2, the movable rodoperating in the same; 3, the operating-handle, and 4 4 theexpanding-buttons. The tube 1 may be of any desired construction ormaterial, but is preferably of the segmetal form shown in the drawings,so that it maybe readily inserted into or withdrawn from a shoe or boot.The rod 2 is bent to conform in shape with the tube 1, so that it may bereadily slipped longitudinally through the same. 'This movement of saidrod is effected by means of the operating-handle 3. This handle 3 ishollow and is provided with a handle proper, 5, and an enlarged portion6, containing an apertnred screw-threaded nut 7. The enlarged portion 0is adapted to fit over the outer end of the tube 1 and thrown thereon,while the nut 7 is adapted to receive the screw-threaded end 8 of therod 2. It will be observed that by this construction when the handle 3is rotated the rod 2 is pulled through the tube 1.'

The inner end of said rod 2 projects somewhat beyond the inner end ofthe tube 1 and has mounted thereon a hub 9, provided upon diametricallyopposite sides with spaced apertured lugs 10. Toggle-levers 11 havetheir inner ends pivoted between said lugs 10, so

as to be free to swing therein from side to spaced lugs 1 l,to whichsaid levers 12 are pivotally connected. The lower ends of said levers 12are pivotally mounted between spaced lugs 15, secured to the backs ofexpanding-buttons 4.

It will be observed from the foregoing that.

when the handle 3 is operated and the rod 2 drawn forward through thetube 1 the sleeve 13, which is loosely mounted on said rod, abutsagainst the lower end of the tube 1, and the hub 9 and said sleeve 13are thus forced toward each other, with the result that thetoggle-levers are strained or inclined more toward a horizontalposition,which forces the expanding-buttons 4 outward, and thus expands theportion of the shoe or boot against which they are pressed. By theemployment of my improved expander any portion of the shoe may bereached and expanded with very little effort. In fact, the power of theinstrument is such that the buttons 4 may be forced outward until theleather of the shoe or boot is split, if so desired.

The construction and operation of the device are very simple. It is notliable to become disarranged and inoperative and when once applied andtightened within a shoe is very positive in its effect.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a boot or shoe expander, the combination with a suitable tube, ofa rod loosely mounted therein and formed at one end with screw-threads,an operating-handle bearing loosely against one end of said tube andformed internally with screw-threads which engage the screw-threads uponthe protruding ends of the rod, and an expanding device located at thelower end of said rod and operated by the longitudinal movement of thesame, substantially as described.

2. In a boot or shoe expander, the combination with the hollow curvedtube, of a flexible rod mounted within the same, a screw-handle formoving said rod longitudinally, and an expanding device connected to theinner end of said rod and adapted to be operated by the longitudinalmovement of the same, substantially as described.

3. In a boot or shoe expander, the combination with a tube adapted to beinserted into a shoe, of a screw-threaded rod mounted in said tube, anoperating-handle mounted on the threads of one end of said rod and anexpanding device mounted on the opposite end of said rod and comprisingtoggle-levers, expanding-buttons connected thereto, and a slidingsleeve, the latter adapted to engage the inner end of the tube when therod is moved longitudinally, substantially as described.

4. In a boot or shoe expander, the combination with a curved tube, of aflexible rod mounted therein and screw-threaded at one end, anoperating-handle adapted to-bear against the outer end of said tube andprovided with a screw-threaded portion engaging the screw-threads ofsaid rod, toggle-levers mounted on the lower end of said rod, a slidingsleeve also mounted on said lower end, toggle-levers pivotally mountedon said sliding sleeves and the before-mentioned togglelevers, andexpanding-buttons mounted on the lower ends of toggle-levers connectedto the slid ing' sleeves, substantially as described. In testimonywhereof I have signed this specification in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses. I

CHARLES H. PRESCOTT. lVitnesses:

IV. II. Pnnsoo'r'r, IDA II. Pnnsoo'r'r.

